Since the January inauguration of US President Donald Trump, Tel Aviv has increasingly become emboldened in its expansionist plans for Jerusalem al-Quds.

Trump has said he plans to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital and move the American embassy to the city.

Erekat demanded that the EU keep its Israel meetings out of West al-Quds “until the Orient House is reopened and Palestinian officials are able to meet with their diplomatic counterparts in East al-Quds, the capital of the State of Palestine.”

The Orient House, where the PLO used to hold official receptions, was closed by Israel in 2001 during the Second Palestinian Intifada (Uprising) against the Israeli occupation.